Reimagine Violence Prevention Services (VPS)

The Reimagine VPS program helps reduce violence and strengthen communities by providing crisis intervention, mentorship, mental health support, and conflict mediation. We believe in a holistic approach that addresses the underlying causes of gun-related violence while empowering youth and families by providing them with the tools to build a safer future. 

Services Provided

Crisis Intervention and Saftey Planning:

  • 24/7 response to community violence and high-risk situations

  • Individualized safety plans for youth and families impacted by violence

  • Emergency relocation services for those impacted by crime and in immediate danger violence

Therapy and Trauma Support:

  • Individual and group therapy sessions with a qualified therapist

  • Support groups focused on grief, trauma recovery, and emotional regulation

  • Restorative healing circles for youth impacted by community violence

Mentorship and Youth Development

  • Male mentorship programs at local schools

  • Life skills coaching, leadership training, and goal setting for opportunity youth

  • Summer program with a focus on gardening, food cultivation, and community building

Conflict Mediation and Restorative Justice

  • Monthly peace circles for youth and community members

  • Mediation between individuals or groups to prevent violence escalation

  • Restorative justice programs provided in school settings

Victim Advocacy and Support

  • Assistance with compensation for survivors of violence

  • Funeral planning support for families impacted by gun violence

  • Connection to legal aid, housing support, and additional community resources

Who do we serve?

  • Youth ages 12-26 at risk of violence or gang involvement

  • Families and individuals impacted by gun violence

  • Schools, local businesses, community organizations, funders, policymakers, and stakeholders who are invested in public safety and need violence prevention resources

What are the goals?

Reimagine VPS transforms lives and secures a brighter future for our community by investing in violence prevention, emotional healing, and youth development.

Saving Lives - Through intervention, crisis response, and mediation, we aim to prevent violence before it happens, keeping youth and families alive to reach their full potential and thrive in their communities.

Building A Safer Community - We strive to make the communities we serve places where families feel safe, children can play without fear, and businesses can flourish without the threat of violence.

Helping Youth Grow and Thrive - Everyone deserves a chance to grow, succeed, and contribute to their community. Our programs provide the guidance, support, and opportunities needed for youth to choose a different path—one of education, leadership, and positive impact.

Making a Lasting Difference - Beyond stopping violence, we want to rebuild communities, restore hope, and empower individuals to create meaningful change that uplifts their entire community for generations to come.

JAYLEN’S STORY

Meet Jaylen. At just 16 years old, he was already caught in the cycle of violence that had claimed too many lives in his neighborhood. With no guidance and nowhere to turn, he was on the edge—one bad decision away from becoming another statistic.

That’s when our Violence Prevention Program stepped in.

Through mentorship, therapy, and support groups, Jaylen found a safe space to open up about his pain, his fears, and his future. Our street outreach team connected with him, showing him that there was another way—one built on strength, purpose, and second chances.

Instead of retaliating for a friend lost to gun violence, Jaylen joined our restorative justice program and learned conflict resolution skills. Instead of getting caught up in the streets, he found community in our peace circles. Instead of feeling hopeless, he worked with our case managers to get back to school, find a job, and start mentoring younger kids who were once in his shoes.

Today, Jaylen is a high school graduate working toward a career in social work He wants to help others escape the same cycle he once felt trapped in.

“This program saved my life. They saw something in me before I saw it in myself. Now, I want to give back and show other kids like me that there’s a way out.”

This is what change looks like. This is what drives us to continue doing this work.

Every life we reach is a step toward a safer, stronger community. Join us in breaking the cycle and creating a future where every youth has the chance to live, grow, and thrive.

CONTACT US

NYAP’s Reimagine VPS program serves youth and families who have been impacted by gun-related violence in the Chatham community.

Are you a school, local businesses, community organization, funder, policymaker, or stakeholder in need of violence prevention resources?  Contact us at (888) 728-5175 or reimaginevps@nyap.org to learn more.